Stony look safe despite defeat

With just two games to go, Stony Stratford continue to hold the upper hand in a two horse race for Premier Division survival despite falling to yet another disappointing defeat at Rushden on Saturday.

With Stony well beaten by 5 o’clock, they made the journey back to Ostlers Lange and turned their attention towards Avenue Road, Finedon - where bottom side Burton Latimer fell just four runs short of a win which would have thrown the survival race wide open with two matches to go.

Stony skipper Alex Strong has found his best form of late with the ball and he was excellent here at Short Stocks, ripping the heart of the star studded home line up with 6-52 as Rushden were bowled out for 173.

At 49 for 1 in reply, Stony looked to be heading towards that vital win before an all too familiar collapse left them 97 all out and with that familiar sinking feeling.

Despite losing Hayden Mullins for 2 in his last game before heading back to Adelaide and a first season with the Redbacks, Stony were in a decent position thanks to Ben Duckett’s 23.

Duckett, fresh from a maiden first class century at Somerset for Northamptonshire in the week, was obviously Stony’s main hope of victory and once he fell to Simon Childs, Stony were struggling.

Sheridan, who is capable of bowling in the mid 80 mph range, wasn’t that quick here but had more than enough to decimate the Stony (96) order, claiming 5- 10.

Stony’s collapse was disappointing but really not surprising and it remains to be seen if it costs them their Premier Division status in two weeks time.